The Thin Red Line

1h 39m 1964

Brief Synopsis

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Dark tale of one man's determination to survive his tour of duty. Separated from his new wife after only eight days of marriage, private Doll suddenly decides that he will no longer blindly follow the orders of his superiors, following his own mind instead. What follows are a series of poorly planned attacks, in which Doll saves the day, time after time; eventually leading to the taking of the Elephant in the battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. Sgt. Welsh, Doll's immediate line officer grows an affinity for Doll, helping him through his first Kill, but never quite allowing himself to admit his admiration for the young soldier. The final scene of the movie brings home the true horror of war and the meaninglessness of it all.

Cast & Crew

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Andrew Marton

Director

Keir Dullea

Private Doll

Jack Warden

1st Sergeant Welsh

James Philbrook

Colonel Tall

Ray Daley

Captain Stone

Bob Kanter

Fife

Film Details

Genre
Adaptation
Drama
War
Release Date
Jan 1964
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 13 May 1964
Production Company
A. C. E. Films; Security Pictures
Distribution Company
Allied Artists
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Thin Red Line by James Jones (New York, 1962).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 39m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1

Synopsis

As his company disembarks at Guadalcanal, young Private Doll resolves to survive, and he steals a pistol to ensure his safety. His attitude arouses the dislike of his sadistic, battle-scarred Sergeant Welsh, and a feud quickly develops between the two men. Welsh scoffs at Doll's feeling of revulsion the first time he kills a Japanese soldier. That night, Doll's dreams of his bride at home are interrupted by an enemy attack. The next day, Doll single-handedly storms and eradicates a Japanese machinegun site. Welsh dismisses the private's courage and senses that he is beginning to experience erotic pleasure when he kills. The animosity between the two men remains strong even as they collaborate to clear a mined gorge through which the company must pass. Following a surprise attack by the enemy, the small group of survivors sets out to capture a cliff dotted with caves that shelter Japanese machinegunners. Doll scales the cliff and discovers that the caves form a labyrinth. As the others join him in destroying the Japanese stronghold, Welsh dashes in front of the private to save him from enemy gunfire. Fatally wounded, Welsh dies in Doll's arms.

Director

Andrew Marton

Director

Cast

Keir Dullea

Private Doll

Jack Warden

1st Sergeant Welsh

James Philbrook

Colonel Tall

Ray Daley

Captain Stone

Bob Kanter

Fife

Merlyn Yordan

Judy

Kieron Moore

Lieutenant Band

Jim Gillen

Captain Gaff

Steve Rowland

Private Mazzi

Stephen Levy

Staff Sergeant Stack

Mark Johnson

Medic

Edward King

Jack Gaskins

Graham Sumner

Charles Stalnaker

Gary Lasdun

Jeffrey O'kelly

Joe Collins

Thomas Freeman

Ted Macauley

Howard Hagen

Bill Barrett

Thomas Entwhistle

Francis Deale

Gonzalo Largo

Russ Stoddard

Evaristo Falco

Ben Tatar

John Clarke

Stan Nelson

Solomon Silva

Bill Christmas

Frank Koomen

Harold Core

Crew

José Algueró

Art Director

Malcolm Arnold

Music comp & Conductor

Maurice Askew

Sound Recording

Ron Ballanger

Special Effects

Manuel Berenguer

Director of Photography

Ronald Brown

Sound Recording

Pat Carr

Special Effects

Bernard Glasser

Executive Producer

Bernard Gordon

Screenwriter

Sidney Harmon

Producer

Kurt Herrnfeld

Sound Editing

Jose Maria Ochoa

Assistant Director

Margarita Pardo

Script Supervisor

Derek Parsons

Film Editor

Emilio Puyol

Makeup

Gregorio Sacristan

Production Manager

Lester A. Sansom

Executive Producer

Charles Simminger

Wardrobe

Philip Yordan

Company

Film Details

Genre
Adaptation
Drama
War
Release Date
Jan 1964
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 13 May 1964
Production Company
A. C. E. Films; Security Pictures
Distribution Company
Allied Artists
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Thin Red Line by James Jones (New York, 1962).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 39m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Filmed in Spain.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1964

Released in United States on Video February 1999

CinemaScope

Released in United States 1964

Released in United States on Video February 1999

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